The Thoughtful Present

Last week I mentioned to my neighbour (Joey) that I’d been looking for an old tractor disc so I could convert it into a bird bath. He said he’d search around his shed and let me know.

Much to my surprise he arrived on Thursday afternoon and presented me with a tractor disc he had welded to some old iron legs – and not only that, he’d found some chain left over from the horse and cart days that he attached to a piece of wood he chiselled out so I could place bird seed underneath!

I often talk about thoughtful presents and have been asked a few times what this actually means. The thoughtful present is precious because of the personal value, the care and attention that’s gone into it, the symbolic meaning, and the practicality.

I’ve known Joey and his mother for about 30 years. He now runs the family farm as well as working another job and caring for his mother in her old age. I often visit her, help out where I can and take her to lunch and shopping. He tells me how much he appreciates this, but it’s no trouble at all – I know he’s under a lot of pressure and I love his mother very much. I believe that everyone deserves dignity, respect and assistance as they age and can no longer do the things they were once able to do with ease.

I love my new bird bath and can’t wait to put it to the test!

Let me know what you think of itand if you have ever received a thoughtful present.

What an AWESOME & THOUGHTFUL gift . . . for a very WORTHY recipient! That is the BEST bird feeder EVA! And so great that you can take some of the weight off of Joey’s shoulders by spending time with his mom ~ especially since you enjoy her company. A WIN x 3!

Great birdbath, Joey not only thinking of you but the birdies as well. I love that he didn’t just give you the disc but came up with a value-added bespoke item! It’s really lovely that you spend time with Joey’s mum, I think family is about who we care for not just who we’re related to.
When I look around my house the best gifts I’ve received are often second-hand, repurposed and given for no reason. But not necessarily… I think the best gifts you know when you see them and who would love them.
For my 40th -a decade or so ago- Dad gave me a gardening book, “Dig”… Although I was living in an inner-city studio apartment at the time, I was thrilled. He must have known something I didn’t ☺

Haaaa – yes Jacqui, they will know it’s made with a lot of love and thoughtfulness. It’s got a nice ‘feeling’ to it. I’ve put seed in the tray and water in the top and they’re keeping a very close eye on it 🙂

What a super story, Dianne! I think you have an awesome new bird bath, and I guarantee there won’t be another one like it in Australia (or the USA, either!).
You are a good person to help your neighbor with his mother. I couldn’t agree more about the importance of taking care of our aging family members and friends.
Now, that, by the way, is a thoughtful present.
Much love to you and yours…

Thanks Sheila xxx I just clicked your link to find a blog I haven’t seen before – so I “followed”. Very excited now because I haven’t received any email notifications from the other blog for a while. How wonderful I found you again 🙂

It really is a piece of art, Dannie. After he made it he said he wants to make other things because it gave him such a great feeling. I told him he must have a muse now and the creativity will flow!
Thank you so much for the tweet xxxx

Thank you so much, Jo. Someone was delivering sand to my parents’ in law next door last week and drove onto my front lawn a little too close to my birdbath. I’m sure the truck driver thought he’d met a mad woman when I told him to steer away from it! Oh dear, I really love it and don’t want it damaged 😀 It’s been an interesting and busy Easter with my father-in-law taken to hospital yesterday with suspected gall stones. I’m sure he’ll be okay, but it’s amazing how much there is to do when you’re caring for aging relatives. There’s never a dull moment 😉

I’m not writing at the moment – but I wish I was! I had my hubby’s aunt come to stay last week and she’s a retired cop. She started talking about her work in the force and I asked he if I could use some of her stories for a book and she was only too happy to share them with me. Now I just have to put my head down and write about a female cop (which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time!) 🙂

That gift from Joey brought tears to my eyes. Hearing about your connection with him, what his life is like now as he takes care of the farm and his mom, and yet how he took the time to ‘gift’ you with something so original and extremely thoughtful. W O W. This may be the best one I’ve ever heard of. (I also think it’s so cool and would love one on my own backyard!). Gifts that take time and thought are the best. However, I must say I got all gushy when my son-in-law sent me a huge potted gorgeous hydrangea for mother’s day last year ….and a dozen red roses for Valentine’s Day the year before. He got a lot of points for those. 🙂

That is incredibly sweet. I love it, and I’ll bet Joey loved making it for you. I’m sure he feels it’s some small reparation for the help you give with his mother. No doubt his mother loves you, too. I’m so grateful that you’re there to help her and show her so much respect. All around, this is a lovely post! Thank you for sharing!

Hi Dianne, Sorry I’ve been away so long from your blog.This is such a sweet interchange between you and your friend and his mother. It says so much about your character, which I have long suspected is loving, genuine, and generous. This looks like a lovely gift. 🙂 Have a beautiful week.

Life happens. The good news is that the true friends stay in touch, don’t you think? You always have such interesting things happen, and you make them so fun. 🙂 You could make a snake bite sound like something we should all experience! 🙂

What a lovely present, asking for one thing and then getting that AND then some – a beautiful birdbath ‘deluxe’ (‘coz it comes with a feeder too). Are you winged friends enjoying it? I love it when a casually tossed out request comes back. I mentioned to a my house mate a month or so ago that I like crafting with old colourful cardboard tea boxes. She’s away this weekend, but when I came home she’d left a couple folded in my kitchen cupboard. We only spoke about it once…but she remembered. It took a while to drink all the tea 🙂 Blessings, Harula xxx

Dianne how gorgeous is that, I would put that in my garden in an instant, what a special friend you have. My friend recently dropped off two birds made out of rusted steal for my garden. This friend knows me so well and knew I would love these simple bird sculptures she said they were nothing much because she picked them up from the tip. I love recycled gifts and the fact she thought of me when she saw these birds.